Coaches of the two athletic clubs in Linden, Upper Demerara School Track Club and Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) are expected to unite for the sixth edition of the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic in that town next month.
This is according to the coaches of both clubs, Moses Pantlitz and Johnny Gravesande who are buoyed about the development when contacted for comment.
According to a release, it is understood that Linden’s Wanda Richmond, Guyana’s only Level V National Coach, negotiated the agreement with the clubs.
Coach of CWSS, Moses Pantlitz said that both teams met and discussed presenting a united force for the sixth Boyce/Jefford Classic that is scheduled for August 15-16 at Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden.
“Out of that meeting, we discussed the merger, which in my view is a good idea where we will be able to be more competitive than ever before as one Linden team,” Pantlitz, who coaches athletes like Cassie George, Cassie Kirton and Compton Caesar, who are all national athletes, stated when contacted for comment.
Pantlitz informed that he recommended that all the athletes in Linden train together and from the training sessions, the best team to represent Linden should emerge. According to the Coach, they are working together in hope that they can win the event.
Meanwhile, Upper Demerara School Coach, Johnny Gravesande, echoed similar sentiments when contacted. “We are coming as Linden. It is a good idea that Linden clubs could come as one team, as opposed to competing against ourselves,” Gravesande noted.
Gravesande said that the merger is the right way since a lot of people in Linden have been calling for that a long time now. He said that they will give the people what they want and hopefully, the result will be different from previous years.
“We have no problem with merging; that is the way to go; Linden is too small to continue to carry two teams. Once the athletes are happy I’m happy and so far, I have not heard any complaints that this is not the right thing to do. Linden wants it,” Gravesande said.
Linden will continue to be host to Guyana’s most lucrative and only international track and field meet next month. As such, pressure continues to mount on the Linden clubs to at least put in a top three performance. The winning club will pocket $600,000 cash, while second place takes home $400,000; third place $250,000 and fourth place $150,000.
